Mike and Dave Need a Date Movie Overview
Mike and Dave Need a Date is a 2017 American romantic comedy film directed by Jake Szymanski and written by Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O'Brien. The film stars Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Anna Kendrick, and Aubrey Plaza. It follows two brothers who post a Craigslist ad seeking respectable dates for their sister's wedding in Hawaii. The project was developed by 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment, with Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Paul Feig among the executive producers. The movie was released theatrically in the United States on May 12, 2017, and distributed by 20th Century Fox, a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox at the time. For background on the production company structure, see the 21st Century Fox overview at Forbes.
The film grossed approximately 48 million dollars worldwide against a production budget reported in the range of 33 million to 35 million dollars, according to industry tracking sources. Domestic box office accounted for the majority of the total, with international markets contributing the remainder. The movie received mixed reviews from critics, with a Metacritic score in the mid-40s and a Rotten Tomatoes critics score around 35 percent. Despite the mixed critical reception, the film reached a broad audience through theatrical release and later became available on streaming and digital platforms. The cast included several performers with strong social media followings, which contributed to the film's opening weekend awareness.
Production and Business Details
The screenplay was developed at 20th Century Fox, with Paul Feig attached as a producer early in development. Principal photography took place in Hawaii and Atlanta, Georgia, with filming beginning in early 2016. The production utilized locations on Oahu and Kauai to represent the Hawaiian wedding setting. The film's runtime is approximately 101 minutes, and it was rated R for strong sexual content, language, and drug use by the MPA. The soundtrack featured a mix of original score and licensed tracks, though the film did not generate a major standalone soundtrack album release.
Chernin Entertainment, the production company behind the film, was founded by Peter Chernin and has produced content across film and television. The company has had output deals with multiple studios over the years, including 20th Century Fox and later Netflix. For information on Chernin Entertainment's broader portfolio, see the company overview at Forbes. The film's distribution was handled by 20th Century Fox, which managed theatrical, home video, and early digital windows in most territories.
Reception and Legacy
Mike and Dave Need a Date opened to mixed box office results, debuting in the top five at the U.S. box office in its first weekend. The film's marketing leaned on the real-life Craigslist ad that inspired the story, which the real-life brothers behind the original ad participated in promoting. The movie's cultural footprint includes references in social media and entertainment coverage, though it did not spawn a franchise or sequel. The film remains a notable example of a mid-budget studio comedy from the late 2010s, with its performance often cited in discussions of the era's theatrical comedy landscape.
As of the latest available public data, the film continues to be referenced in industry analyses of 2017 studio releases and mid-budget